Keep reading to find a bunch of things to do during a day trip to Taichung City, Taiwan.
I want to share a bunch of tourist attractions with folks visiting Taichung based on my (and others’) experience. I put together a bunch of recommendations.
9 Things to Do in Taichung: Top Tourist Spots in Central Taiwan’s City
Here’s a list of everything to do:
| Tourist Hotspot | Who It’s Best For |
|---|---|
| 921 Earthquake Museum | History lovers |
| Chun Shui Tang | Bubble tea lovers |
| National Taichung Theater | Families |
| Rainbow Village | History lovers |
| Fengjia Night Market | Couples |
| Miyahara Ice Cream | Families |
| Animation Alley | Families |
| Taichung Confucius Temple | Families |
| Taichung Second Market | Foodies |
| Taichung Martyr’s Shrine | History lovers |
| Gaomei Wetlands | Families |
| National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts | Families |
Tip: don’t forget to explore my Taichung MRT guide. It’ll help you navigate Taichung.
Keep reading to find more details and how to reach each place.
1. 921 Earthquake Museum of Taiwan
| Hours | 9 AM–5 PM |
| Address | No. 192號, Xinsheng Rd, Wufeng District, Taichung City, Taiwan 413 |
| Price to Enter | General ticket: NT$50Student (6–12 y/o): NT$25Student (12+): NT$30Seniors (65+): NT$25Children Under 6: Free |
Taichung hosts a museum in its Wufeng district that commemorates this horrific disaster. You’ll find exhibits here that include:
- Engineering Education Jall: visualizes how modern engineering minimizes earthquake damage
- Chelongpu Fault Preservation Hall: presents various images of the destruction that happened to the Chelongpu Fault
- Gallery: various audiovisuals and images that show what happened during the earthquake
- Reconstruction Record Hall: documents Taiwan’s efforts to rebuild the country after this disaster
- Disaster Prevention Hall: presents information on how to prevent future destruction from earthquakes
It’s to bring awareness to earthquakes after the Jiji (or 921 quake). It was a disaster that happened on September 21, 1999. It led to 2,400 deaths and 8,500 collapsed buildings [1].
To get to the 921 Earthquake Museum, rent a YouBike, call an Uber or taxi, or take either of two buses. When taking bus 50, depart at the Earthquake Museum of Taiwan stop. Or take buses 201 or 107 to Kengkou Village (Guangfu New Village) stop.
2. Chun Shui Tang: The Birthplace of Bubble Tea
| Hours | 8 AM–10 PM |
| Address | No. 30號, Siwei St, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 |
Taichung’s tea house, the founding place of bubble tea, opened in 1983 and continues to serve today.
They offer milk tea, food, and souvenirs—I recommend getting the postcards. They’re unique. Also, if you like the tea in the restaurant, consider buying some loose-leaf tea to take home.
Add this to your itinerary, no matter what else you do in Taichung. Plus, it’s by an excellent sun cake shop, where you can also try Taichung’s other signature sugary delight.
A small pearl milk tea will start at NT$80. Their largest size will cost NT$180 (price at the time of writing).
Choose whether you want hot or iced tea. Also, when ordering drinks from anywhere in Taiwan, tell them your sugar level, which includes:
- No sugar
- Least possible: 20% sugar
- Half
- Less: 80% sugar
- Regular: 100% sugar
Or tell them how much ice you want—most, normal, less, or no ice.
3. National Taichung Theater
| Hours | Mon–Fri: 11:30 AM–9 PMWeekends: 11:30–10 PM |
| Address | No. 101號, Section 2, Huilai Rd, Xitun District, Taichung City, 407025 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Opened in November 2016, the National Taichung Theater offers 5 floors of varying experiences for tourists:
- 1st floor: souvenir shop and café
- 2nd floor: a theater where many performances happen
- 3rd floor: children’s play area
- 4th floor: nothing special
- 5th floor: Tutu Gallery, which contains audiovisual and interactive exhibits; and another children’s play area
- Rooftop: anyone can visit this open-air space and explore the greenery, garden, and architecture
Explore the second floor.
Though it’s an area that hosts performances, you don’t need a ticket to walk around. Moreover, a fascinating staircase will take you to the upper floors.
You don’t need to pay anything to get into the National Taichung Theater. It’s another great thing to do on the list of things in Taichung if you’re on a budget.
To get here, drive, walk, rent a YouBike, or take the buses: 27, 75, 324, or the 309 shuttle bus.
4. Rainbow Village
| Hours | Daily, 9 AM–5 PM |
| Address | 408, Taiwan, Taichung City, Nantun District, 春安路56巷25號 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Rainbow Village is an old military village situated in Taichung’s Nantun District. It debuted in 2010.
How did this village appear?
When the Kuomintang (KMT) retreated to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War. Soldiers constructed quick shelters, which eventually became villages.
During the 90s’, the Taiwanese government began destroying these aging villages. A man named Huang Yong-Fu was among the troops who retreated to Taiwan, and he also owned one of these homes.
After hearing about their demise, he began painting these buildings to preserve them. Petitioning students and Huang managed to save 11 buildings, which have become the present-day Rainbow Village.
You can still find Huang, or Rainbow Grandpa, in the village. Though he’s 99 years old (in 2022), he’s still maintaining his painted homes.
Once you get here, explore the village for food stalls, cafés, and souvenir shops. Otherwise, it’s a great place to learn more about Taiwan’s culture and history.
To get here, you could take bus 167. Or, take bus 27 and depart at Gancheng Village (千城六村站), which is the 6th stop. Also take bus 56, which will stop in front of the village.
5. Fengjia Night Market
| Hours | 4 PM–2 AM |
| Address | Wenhua Rd, Xitun District, Taichung City, 407 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Fengjia Night Market, or Fengjia Shopping Town, sits next to Taichung’s Feng Chia University.
It accommodated nearby military personnel who lived in dependents’ villages, which were villages meant to house troops.
Now it’s one of the best things to do in Taichung if you’re looking for an excellent place for food.
Usually, night markets have a famous dish, but Fengjia doesn’t. I do recommend trying Dafeng Stewed Pork. Or, if you’re vegetarian, try the egg pancakes at Ming Lun Dan Bing.
For dessert, try any of the market’s potato balls.
6. Miyahara Ice Cream: Premium Ice Cream and Pineapple Cakes
| Hours | 10 AM–9 PM |
| Address | No. 20號, Zhongshan Rd, Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan 400 |
In 1927, while Taiwan was under Japan’s control, a man named Takekuma Miyahara opened the Miyahara Eye Clinic in Taichung. After the occupation, the Taichung City Health Bureau eventually moved out of this building, and from there, it shuffled through varying businesses.
In 2010, Dawncake, a Taiwanese pastry company, bought the ruins of the former Miyahara Eye Clinic, then transformed it into Miyahara Ice Cream.
They have more than 50 flavors, including Honey Cheese, Alishan Oolong Tea, and Caramel Apple. Also, for one scoop, you’ll pay NT$100. For two scoops for NT$180 and three scoops for NT$225.
If you want a waffle bowl, you’ll need to pay an additional NT$20. Or, if you want “Luxury Toppings” like pineapple cakes and other fruit, you’ll have to spend an extra NT$80. When I visited, they offered a single free topping.
I got a pineapple cake.
Unlike most ice cream in Taiwan, Miyahara has a creamier texture and is sweeter. It reminds me of American ice cream. However, it’s not the best ice cream I’ve had in Taiwan.
That title goes to the Snow King in Taipei’s Ximending. They have “unique” flavors like beer and wasabi.
Anyway:
You’ll find a cookie and tea shop adjacent to Miyahara ice cream. The former is an atrium with a theme like Hogwarts School of Wizardry from the Harry Potter series. It’s an excellent place to get photos.
7. Animation Alley
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Address | Lane 100, Linsen Rd, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Animation alley is a labyrinth of alleyways with various character paintings on the walls like:
- My Neighbor Totoro
- One Punch Man
- SpongeBob SquarePants
- One Piece
It’ll likely take you 20 minutes to see all the paintings. But it’s an excellent way to relax and escape from the chaotic city. And it’s one of the most impressive graffiti areas I’ve seen.
There isn’t much to do here besides gazing at the visual spectacles lining the walls. You’ll find a comic and souvenir shop and a claw machine arcade. Depending on when you go, there may also be an open cafe for you to take a seat and relax.
You’ll want to take bus 25 toward Chung-Shin Elementary School to get here. Or walk between 15–20 minutes from Taichung Station.
8. Taichung Confucius Temple
| Hours | 9 AM–5 PMClosed Mondays |
| Address | No. 30號, Section 2, Shuangshi Rd, North District, Taichung City, Taiwan 404 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Builders finished this temple’s construction in 1976 during the Song Dynasty. It follows a similar architectural style to the Qufu Confucian Temple in Shandong, China.
Now, it sits in Taichung’s North District and teaches visitors about the events during the Song Dynasty.
Sometimes, you may encounter events that promote local culture.
9. Taichung Second Market
Previously known as the Shintomichō Market, the Japanese colonial government built the Taichung Second Market in 1917. The name “Second” comes from the fact that it was the second out of five markets the government intended to build throughout Taichung.
In the past, the Second Market sold high-end clothing and food. Nowadays, it’s a hub for Taiwanese cuisine.
The Second Market even has a stall, Mao Chuan, that sells ba-wan—sweet potato stuffed with savory sauce—to which the Michelin guide passed an excellent rating.
10. Taichung Martyr’s Shrine
| Hours | 9 AM–4 PM |
| Address | No. 264, Lixing Rd, North District, Taichung City, 404 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
Nearby the Confucius Temple, you’ll find the Taichung Martyr’s Shrine. It was a Shinto shrine during Japan’s occupation to honor Japanese heroes. Upon the Republic of China (ROC) taking Taiwan, the government converted the shrine to honor fallen Kuomintang (KMT) soldiers.
11. Gaomei Wetlands
| Hours | 24/7 |
| Address | Meidi St, Qingshui District, Taichung City, 436 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
A massive mud flat along Taichung’s coast presents various beautiful sites. Visit as the sun sets to see one of Taiwan’s most stunning sunsets.
Otherwise:
Walk along the 800-meter dock and gaze at the flats.
Most people get here by driving. But it’ll cost NT$50 per vehicle.
Otherwise, take buses 178 or 179 from TRA Qingshui Station. Reach this station by taking the local train from the city.
12. National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts
| Hours | Weekdays: 9 AM–5 PMWeekends: 9 AM– 6 PM |
| Address | No. 2號, Section 1, Wuquan W Rd, West District, Taichung City, 403 |
| Price to Enter | Free |
This museum hosts themed, temporary, permanent, and special exhibitions by Taiwanese artists. As well as various art collections.
There’s not too much to say about this area. You’ll need to visit their website to see whether it’s worth visiting.
How Do I Get to Taichung?
Here’s how you’ll get to Taichung:
- High-Speed Rail (HSR): take the HSR to HSR Taichung Station
- Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA): to any of Taichung’s local train stations
- Bus: take the Kuo-Kuang or U Bus
- Taoyuan International Airport: only arrive if coming from overseas
Let’s find you somewhere to stay.
Where To Stay in Taichung
THE LIN
No. 99號, Chaofu Rd, Xitun District, Taichung City, 407024
Sparkling clean hotel close to attractions like the National Taiwan Museum of Fine Arts & Danqing MRT Station.
Freshfields Hotel
No. 2號, Wenquan Rd, Wuri District, Taichung City, 414
Near Taichung HSR Station.
Kiwi Express Hotel
No. 29號, Luchuan W St, West District, Taichung City, 403•04 3506 7728
Close to Taichung TRA Station.
StrayBirds Hostel
403, Taichung City, West District, Gongyi Rd, 201號8樓
Great hostel somewhat close to attractions like the Jingguo Greenway.
Taichung Tourist Map
Taichung Tourist Tours to Try
Try these tours while you’re in Taichung:
- Religious tour: learn how to make paper from bamboo & more
- North District walking tour: learn about the Confucious Temples & more
- 1-day tour: Gaomaei Wetlands & popular buildings in Taichung city
